MONTAGU'S SUCKING-FISH. 375 



This fish has since that period been found on various parts 

 of the coast. Dr. George Johnston has obtained it in Ber- 

 wick Bay ; Mr. Thompson has taken it on the south-western 

 coast of Scotland, and in Belfast Bay ; it has also been taken 

 in the south of Ireland, and it is not uncommon in Cornwall, 

 as well as on the Devonshire coast. 



Colonel Montagu says this species inhabits only the rocky 

 parts of the coast, and of course is ,rarely taken with the 

 dredge. Those obtained by its discoverer were found at 

 exceedingly low tides among the rocks at Milton, on the 

 south coast of Devon. When it is adhering to a rock the 

 posterior part of the body is frequently turned to one side, 

 nearly parallel with the anterior part, the tail being brought 

 close to the head. This habit of curving its body has been 

 observed by all those who have found this species. 



Mr. Couch's notice of it in his MS. is as follows : " This 

 is a common species in the West of England, where, how- 

 ever, it seems to wander, since at certain times it is much 

 more rare than at others. It possesses considerable activity ; 

 and when the tide has ebbed it is often found concealed 

 beneath a stone, where when at rest it usually throws the tail 

 forwards towards the head. I have never seen it adhere to 

 any fixed substance. The young come to life in September." 



Montagu's Sucker, in the adult state, is from two inches 

 and a half to three inches long : the body is rounded as far as 

 the vent; the posterior end somewhat compressed; head 

 broad, a little depressed, and inflated about the gills ; mouth 

 moderately large ; both jaws armed with several rows of mi- 

 nute teeth : eyes small, and placed high ; iricles golden ; 

 pupils dark blue, with a single blue line descending from the 

 eye to the angle of the mouth : the operculum angular ; the 

 branchiostegous membrane transparent ; the pectoral and 

 ventral fins unite ; the first is rounded ; in the last, four or 

 five, ravs on each side invest the adhesive disk, which is sin- 



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